How significant was the Mau Mau Rebellion in the achievement of Kenya's independence from British colonial rule?

This study will investigate the question: How significant was the Mau Mau Rebellion in the achievement of Kenya's independence from British colonial rule? The first source I have selected for my analysis is a cartoon published in 1962. This source, in particular, is relevant to the investigation and analysis because it depicts; the British as the savior from the serpent labeled as "Mau Mau". In the cartoon, the British are portrayed as the protectors of the baby (Kenya) from the dangers of the snake. The second source I have selected is an extract from the book "Revolt and Repression in Kenya: The "Mau Mau" Rebellion, 1952-1960" by John Newsinger. This source is relevant as it provides insight into the investigation as it is a historical account of the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, which was a significant uprising against British colonial rule that lasted from 1952 to 1960.

Source 1 was created by David Low and was published in "The Evening Standard" on October 18, 1952. Therefore the origin of this source is valuable because; the author David Low is an expert in political cartooning and his cartoons are highly valuable in the political cartooning field. Secondly; source 1 serves the purpose of expressing an opinion. The opinion expressed is that the British are trying to justify their use of violence against the Mau Mau because they were threatening the survival of Kenya. The purpose is then valuable to the investigation, as this opinion reflects that of the Western world about the Mau Mau movement. Finally, the content is significant because it sheds light on how the British perceived the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950s.

Nevertheless, source 1 was published in 1952, the origin is a limitation because David Low's British background influences what he draws in the cartoon. The purpose's limitation is that it was used as propaganda, as it portrayed the Mau Mau as a serpent to turn the British public against the Mau Mau. The source's content also bears limitations, as the complicated circumstances of the Mau Mau revolt and the larger political climate in Kenya at the time may have been oversimplified or misrepresented in the cartoon. The cartoon's content is also a reflection of widespread prejudices and misconceptions about Africa and its people that were present in 1950s British society.

Source 2 was created by John Newsinger and published in 1989. The year of publication of the source strengthens the value as it indicates that Newsinger has taken time and used various sources to compile the extensive research into a reliable source that has benefitted from hindsight. Furthermore, the purpose of the source was to provide a historical description of the Mau Mau Rebellion and its part in Kenya's independence movement. This is valuable because it informs the readers while giving specific details on the event and relating it to Kenya's independence. Finally, the content is valuable to the investigation because the uprising's effects on the British rule in Kenya are examined in the book.

However, the source does have limitations, as John Newsinger may have been influenced by his British background. Therefore, the origin puts my investigation at a disadvantage. Secondly, the purpose is also a limitation as it limits the scope and leads to a partial understanding of the historical context of the investigation. The source's content does not offer a complete or nuanced picture of the Mau Mau uprising. Once again the source is unidirectional and does not give my investigation relevant information.

The Mau Mau rebellion began in 1952 and ended in 1960. The rebellion was the Kenyan people's reaction against British colonial rule. It was a pivotal period in Kenya's struggle for independence. This armed uprising challenged oppressive policies by the British and played a significant role in achieving Kenya's independence. This part of my Internal Assessment will investigate the significance of the Mau Mau rebellion in the achievement of Kenya's independence from British colonial rule on balance with other factors that played a crucial role that included but were not limited to the role that women played, diplomacy and negotiations, and other countries independence. The movement primarily comprised of Kikuyu people but inclusive of ethnicities discontented with British colonial rule. Their grievances stemmed from profound economic, social, and political injustices imposed

They employed tactics ranging from terrorism, and sabotage of colonial infrastructure, to guerrilla warfare, and brutal attacks while operating from secretive forest hideouts. During this period, 32 Europeans in Kenya as well as close to 200 British police and soldiers died and at least 1,800 African people were killed. Some sources state that many Mau Mau fighters also suffered casualties in this rebellion (Bilow, 2009). The Mau Mau had a significant role in achieving Kenya's independence from British Colonial rule. They inspired an increased feeling of self-belief and self-worth among Africans in Kenya and made them believe that the British were not unbeatable and that they would come out victorious and soon enough gain independence (Ogutu,1991).

The Mau Mau rebellion had significant financial and economic effects on the British government. This is because it highlighted World War Two's effects on the British economy. These economic problems coinciding with the Mau Mau became a huge threat to the British who found it increasingly difficult to counter. World War Two profoundly strained the British economy, causing immense financial burdens (Cooley & Ohanian, 1997). The war effort depleted resources, leading to massive debts and reduced global economic dominance. Responding to the movement required sufficient financial resources and the aforementioned negative impacts of the Second World War on the economy undermined an effective response (Scullin, 2017).

The Mau Mau caught the attention of Kenyan citizens due to their political consciousness. It then in turn increased the morale of the Kenyans and encouraged them to take a stand against the British. The group sparked an independence movement that resonated deeply within the economically marginalized Kenyan public, igniting a passion for liberation in a way that had never been seen before; they raised the collective awareness of Kenyan society to the harsh realities and oppression under colonial rule. This made the movement significant as it created an atmosphere of nationalism and courage in the public which aided the independence (Throup D,2009).

Additionally, this movement instilled fear in the loyalists in the society. This use of fear and terror by the movement made them significant and enabled them to achieve their goal of independence. This was an important strategy that was used to undermine the British's authority and control. Fearmongering was mostly directed towards weakening British control such as the assassinations and target killings of both British and Kenyans who were perceived as loyalists. An example is the daylight assassination of a prominent British supporter Chief Kungu Waruhiu. (Branch, D 2007).

Aside from the aforementioned state of emergency in 1952, there was also the presence of international sympathy as a result of brutal tactics employed by the British for example in the Lari Massacre. In the Massacre, hundreds of Kikuyu people were killed by British forces and their local collaborators between 1953 and 1954 which served as a turning point for the British and the aggressive policies they were unleashing on the people of Kenya (Pittman,2016). The massacre invited widespread feelings of international sympathy from countries concerned about the extreme use of force and the blatant disregard for human rights.

While the Mau Mau Rebellion played a significant role in Kenya's struggle for independence, an objective study invites consideration of other factors that contributed to the achievement of freedom and consequently an evaluation of the relative import of these factors vis-a-vis the role played by the movement. For example, eminent women who participated in active resistance, including, Mekatilili wa Menza of the Giriama and the Moraa Wa Ng'Iti of the Kisii.

Mekatilili Wa Menza, of the Giriama tribe, became an icon in Kenyan history, due to her bravery. Similarly, a Kisii activist, Moraa wa Ng'Iti was deified for her courage while going against the British alongside her nephew. Women in Kenya had opposed the colonial oppression through the Thuku riots where they denounced the rising taxes and demanded higher pay. These efforts began the activeness of rural women which then influenced their participation in subsequent revolts. Despite the fact that they were refused to play a role in the Kenya African Union (KCA), they created their own group called the Mumbi Central Association, to raise political awareness.

In addition, the role of politicians. Jomo Kenyatta emerged as Kenya's first president, he played a crucial role in the country's independence. He worked on campaigning for African rights while consulting with British officials. Tom Mboya and Oginga Odinga worked tentatively to achieve independence alongside Kenyatta to gain support for independence. Solidarity against the British brought about constitutional amendments and Kenya's eventual independence.

Moreover, World War II was a factor that influenced Kenya's independence from British colonial rule. During the war, many Kenyan troops fought on the same side as the British against the Axis forces and gained combat experience and exposure to nationalist ideology. This experience brought about a sense of strength in Kenyan soldiers and increased their yearning for greater political rights. World War II influenced world politics and the British colonial posture. The conflict weakened European colonial powers and forced a new thinking pattern for the Kenyans in terms of colonial practices (Brands, 2005). During World War II,

In addition, the role played by Pan-Africanism was significant in Kenya's struggle for independence. A sociopolitical theory that promotes solidarity, unity, and empowerment, Pan-Africanism greatly contributed to Kenya's fight for independence as it inspired a sense of solidarity and togetherness among African nations. Pan-Africanism brought about a sense of togetherness in African nations, which brought about morale and material backing for Kenya's nationalist movement. Leaders including Jomo Kenyatta were influenced by Pan-African views while focusing on the freedom and self-determination of other African nations encouraged by Pan-Africanist thinkers such as Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere. This feeling increased a sense of identity that the Kenyans longed for and increased pride in Kenyan nationalists, inspiring them to fight for their independence and fight for their rights (Osborne, 2020).

Moreover, the role played by the independence of other African states. As neighboring nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, and others attained independence, Kenyan nationalists were inspired and encouraged to escalate their fight against British colonialism. These successful examples gave motivation, strategic ideas, and diplomatic backing to Kenya's independence struggle. As additional states attained sovereignty, worldwide attention and pressure on colonial powers to decolonize Africa intensified, aiding discussions and hastening Kenya's eventual independence in 1963. Thus, the independence of other African countries acted as a spur and example for Kenya's freedom movement (Binaisa, 1977).

In conclusion, the Mau Mau was a factor that led to independence but it was not a main factor like the role women played in gathering and supplying freedom fighters with information to help keep the independent movement going. Neither was it more important than the contribution of returning soldiers and the pressure, unity, and mindset that allowed them to fight for independence in the country.

The investigation has been a great eye-opener on some of the challenges experienced by historians through their data collection. Being a history student it has also given me a significant perspective on the value of the work that historians do and the process of research that they go through. The process of research has taught me skills which include; the identification and analysis of sources for historians. However, researching the Mau Mau rebellion has brought me immense challenges such as the lack of relevant resources, which has allowed me to gain a first-hand account of the limitations that historians face.

As sources of information are always available, it is important to note that most of the time, they have to rely on sources that reflect what they are looking for. As a historian, there is a need to take into account these potential biases and understand that these sources are useful but must be viewed skeptically. This investigation revealed to me that not all resources are relevant, as well as accurate.

Furthermore, another issue historians face when exploring a topic is the inability of some sources to provide a clear scope that directly relates to the question. This is an issue for historians as they cannot fully rely on an accurate record of events, which in the end limits the value of the work produced. This was often the case during the investigation aspect of the research conducted especially from the use of the cartoon by David Low.

In summary, through this investigation, I have gotten a first-hand account of the difficulties in researching a topic as well as synthesizing it with the knowledge I had about research to further understand the challenges historians go through. The investigation has allowed me to be considerate of the validity of various perspectives as well as the importance of objectivity.

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